The Jammu and Kashmir government this evening decided to postpone the general elections of chairmen of block development councils by bringing forth an ordinance, reports rediff.com's Mukhtar Ahmad.  

"The panchayat elections were held in 2011 which was a historic milestone in the democratic history of the state after more than three decades. About 80 per cent of the electorate exercised their right to franchise in this process. In the last one year the government took series of actions to empower panchayats and strengthen the Panchayati Raj system in the state by giving an effective role to the elected representatives at the grass root level,' an official statement said this evening.

"The state cabinet which met today decided that to strengthen the resolve of the government for a robust Panchayati Raj system, certain changes have to be incorporated in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, thereby creating a steel-frame of democracy at the grass root level. In order to bring these changes in a transparent manner after due diligence and deliberations with all the stake holders, the cabinet here today decided to bring an ordinance for cancellation of general elections of chairmen of block development councils," the statement added.